Cooking to Beat the Band

Before we left Iowa I borrowed Mickeys hot air oven to see if I would like it. I had watched an infomercial about a NuWave oven and it peaked my interest. However, I know myself and I wanted to be sure I would actually use it. Especially since it would be a sacrifice of space in the motorhome. I bought one.
And I love it for many reasons, too many to list. The one I am most aware of at this time is that it does not heat up the motorhome. We have been running the AC and then if I started the RV oven it is like setting up a conflict of goals! If interested, watch a youtube video and they will explain all the features. Here is one of many videos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9CZv37iQO4 ) I ordered mine from Amazon.

Another reason I like it is speed. Oven results with microwave speed. win/win.

So yesterday we went to the Farmers market up the road to load up on produce. I have known there was a big lack of veggies in our diet and my goal was to rectify that.  I found a recipe to try with multiple veggies. I will tell those who care to read this far that I used square aluminum pans to put the veggies in. You can put them directly on the nuwave racks but I chose not to.
So here is the recipe I tried with added notes. It was a huge hit. And really, you do not need a fancy new oven to do this recipe. Let me know how it turns out in a conventional oven.

Roasted Vegetable Medley Recipe

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min. Bake: 30 min.

MAKES: 7 servings

Ingredients

• 3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into small wedges
• 2 medium sweet red peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed
• 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
• 1 medium red onion, cut into wedges
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary or 2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• (Butch and I are not fond of rosemary so I used 1 T. of Morton Season-All salt. I would suggest using any seasonings for your personal tastes. Mr. Fussy-Butt loved it and ate all there was of it.)
• Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, red peppers, squash, sweet potato and onion. In a small bowl, whisk oil, vinegar and seasonings. Pour over vegetables and toss to coat.
2. Transfer to two greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Bake, uncovered, 30-40 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Yield: 7 servings.

Nutritional Facts

1 cup equals 152 calories, 6 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 347 mg sodium, 24 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 2 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 fat.

I prepared this in my NuWave oven. Oven set on 350 for 20 minutes-used extension and 3 “ rack- stirred once during cooking. Loved it!

Callie

Callie is a fussy-butt of a cat and does not warm up to everyone, but she remembered Butch and run to him like an old friend. Her people were quite surprised.

After coffee and golf today, Butch and I went to Mexico. Our favorite place to eat has closed permanently due to lack of customers. Garcia's is no more. Another victim of the drug cartels. So Butch and I went to Elsa's for Pancho's and margaritas. I liked Pancho's in both places, but the cheese was queso blanco (white cheese) in Garcia's and the yellow/orange stuff at Elsa's. They are tasty both ways, but my preference is the white. May have to search for a new place in Nuevo Progreso, Mex.

Start of 2015/16 season.(out of sync)

We have settled in and are enjoying the slower pace that takes happens in the early part of the season. Yesterday I started in on the cupboards around my computer desk, organizing, discarding and cleaning the entire area. It is amazing the many items you find that have not been touched in years. I started one box putting in tape of all kinds, fasteners, wall hooks and other things of that nature. The box kept growing, but I did find one box large enough to contain it all. I started another box for all things computer related, cords, cables etc. This took me several hours, but there is a sense of satisfaction once completed.

Tuesday at coffee hour I asked for a show of hands wanting computer class to begin. I had enough takers so this morning is the day. More on that later if there is anything to say.

Settled in

We have settled in. It always takes me a while to get my nest all fluffed out and ready for a 5 month stay. This morning I wanted to make some muffins and I knew for a fact I had put my blender somewhere but for the life of me I could not remember where. So I took our super duper LED flashlight and went on a search. I soon found it. Still haven't made the muffins yet but that is another story.

A cold front made its way through south Texas and the high today will be 70 degrees. Ever since we had arrived the weather has been extremely hot and humid so this cold front has been feeling kinda good. It was also good that we could turn off the AC!

Bill and Kay arrived and knowing what it takes to get settled in we have given them space. They are now ready for company so we have had a nice visit or two the past couple of days.

November is a quiet month here. The traffic is lighter and all in all, more of a laid back feel. Butch and I made our first foray to H.E.B. yesterday. It is so refreshing to be met with friendly faces. The local people are glad to see us and that makes you feel good. I came across a lady with several children and she was teaching them comparison shopping. They were buying oatmeal. I asked her and her girls what was the best buy.(Mom's Best $1.28)  She asked where we were from. She said she had moved back here from northern California having grown up in this area. And then in another isle an older lady was not paying attention and turned around about bumping into me. I smiled and said, "Whoops". She was very apologetic and I assured her I was not upset in the least. For some reason, the friendliness, and accommodating attitude reminded me why we like Texas. And H.E.B. is still my favorite grocery store in the entire U.S. of A.

We have some pretty pigeons in our park. Camera shy, however.